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Profile: Andy Coulson

Andy Coulson was appointed as editor of News of World in 2003. He resigned from the post in January 2007 after Royal Editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire were convicted.

Goodman and Mulcaire admitted conspiring to intercept communications while Mulcaire also pleaded guilty to five other charges of intercepting voicemail messages.

Following the conviction Coulson said:

I deeply regret that they happened on my watch. I also feel strongly that when the News of the World calls those in public life to account on behalf of its readers, it must have its own house in order.

Andy Coulson leaves 10 Downing Street after he quit his role as Director of Communications Credit: PA

Months later, in May 2007, Coulson took up the post of Director of Communications for the Conservative Party. When the coalition was formed after the May 2010 General Election and David Cameron was made Prime Minister, Coulson entered Downing Street as communications chief.

He quit the role in January 2011 after admitting the News of the World phone-hacking row was making his job impossible. He has always denied any knowledge of the practice at the newspaper.

In a resignation statement he said:

Continued coverage of events connected to my old job at News of the World has made it difficult for me to give the 110% needed in this role. I stand by what I've said about those events but when the spokesman needs a spokesman it's time to move on.

Andy Coulson leaves Lewisham police station in south London after his arrest in July 2011 Credit: PA

Later that year he was arrested in relation to Scotland Yard's long-running investigation into phone-hacking at the News of the World. He was held in July on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications and corruption and had his bail extended earlier this month.

Earlier today (May 30) Coulson was detained by officers from Strathclyde Police on suspicion of committing perjury during the Tommy Sheridan trial in Glasgow. The 44-year-old gave evidence in Mr Sheridan's perjury trial at the High Court in Glasgow in December 2010.

Officers acting for Strathclyde Police Operation Rubicon detained a 44-year-old man in London this morning under Section 14 of the Criminal Procedure Scotland Act on suspicion of committing perjury at the High Court in Glasgow.

– Strathclyde Police

In Scottish law detention means he will be questioned in custody and then could later be released or arrested.